Huge General Strike Hits Italy

AP Italy's largest union, the CGIL, is holding a huge general strike today against the Italian government's austerity cuts, reports The Guardian.

Millions of trade union members are on strike, according to the BBC. Flights have been cancelled, buses and trains are not running, and many government offices are closed.

The austerity cuts are expected to involve €45.5 billion ($64.5 billion). President Giorgio Napolitano released a rare statement on Monday, calling for all parties to help restore faith in the Italian government.

"It is a sign of the persistent difficulty in regaining trust as is urgently and indispensably required," he said